Golf club



Oct. 14, 1924. 1,511,479

E. A. KELLY ET AL I GOLF CLUB Filed Jan. 14 1924 v I A z [72% 7&5. Edwin 2. E619; Emma; J2? Lin/6,

flam w 11 W Patented Oct.v 14, 1-924.

,uNlrso STATES EDWIN A. KELLY RICHARD A. LINK, OF WEEATON, ILLINOIS.

GOLF CLUB.

Application filed January 14, 1924. Serial No. 685,952.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Eowm A. KELLY and RICHARD A. LINK, citizens of the United States, and residents of the city of Wheaton, in the county of Du Page and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Golf Clubs, of which the fol owing is a specification.

This invention relates to golf clubs but more particularly to such as are commonly known as putters and has for its primary object to provide rfect balance so that more accurate resu ts may be accomplished.

Further objects of our invention are to provide a putter which imparts an over-spin on the ball and secures distance with a minimum amount of effort or back-stroke, to provide a center shaft putter which is adapted for either right or left-hand use, to provide a putter which enables the player to use it with the shaft either substantially upright or in a sloping position, and in general to provide an improved golf club of this ty e.

he putter is used on the een for putting the ball in the hole and the primary requisite of such a club is its ability to provide accuracy of direction. This is dependent practically entirely on the balance of the club. Next in importance is the ability of the club to impart to the ball the necessary travel or distance with the minimum of of fort or backstroke. This procured by the proper construction of the head. The next requisite of a putter is adaptability to the various methods of holding the club while making a stroke. This is dependent on the form of the under-face of the club. Our improved putter possesses all these essential characteristics to a marked de ree.

The many other objects and advantages of our invention will be better understood by reference to the following specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating a selected embodiment thereof in which Fig. 1 is a artial front elevation of a putter embodying the principles of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view.

Referring to the drawinfg, he utter comprises a head 5 and a she t 6. e shaft is inserted in a socket 7 in the upper side of the head and the manner of retaining the same therein depends upon the composition of the head and shaft, though glue or shellac are commonly used. A wrapping 8 is usually wound about the neck or shank formed on the head adjacent to the mouth of the socket 7 and the portion of the shaft immediately above the same.

The importance of providing perfect balance has been fully explained. This is procured mainly in our improved putter by 10- cating the shaft substantially at the center of gravity of the head. This putter belongs to what is generally known as the center shaft class which merely indicates that the shaft enters the head at some point'ap rox'- imately midway between the ends 0 the head as distinguished from the older and more common type of club having the shaft located at the inner end of the head. This term does not signify that the shaft is located at the center of gravity of the head and, so far as we are aware, the putters of this class have not been so constructed. In our construction the weight of the head is substantially uniforml distributed about the shaft and the actua center of gravity preferably lies in the axis of the shaft.

In the present embodiment, the head is made of wood, as at 9, though metal, fiber, bakelite, or other suitable material might be substituted therefor. With the wooden head weprefer to place face plates on the front and rear faces, as at 10 and 11 respectively. These may be of brass, fiber, ivory or an of the other well-known materials suitab e for the purpose. A bottom plate 12 is secured upon the under face of the head. An inspection of. the drawing will show that the general characteristic of the head is its 9 oval form which we have found to be ad vantageous in many ways. The front and rear face plates 10 and 11 curve from end to end and from top to bottom. The first mentioned curve reduces the amount of contact surface presented to the ball and provides more distance with less effort or back stroke. This is a very valuable feature for it is much easier to accurately make a short swing than a longer one. The curvature from top to bottom still further reduces the contactsurface and in addition provides an over spin on the ball which not only causes the ball to closely follow the ground and run more freel thereon but facilitates its entry into the ole.

The bottom plate 12 is likewise preferably curved from end to end and from front to rear. The longitudinal curvature enables the shaft to be held substantially vertical or oblique as and for the reasons already set forth. The curvature of this plate from front to rear facilitates the travel of the club particularly when it comes in contact with the ground. The plates 10, 11 and 12 are secured to the head in "any suitable manner as by screws 13. These face and bottom lates as such form no part ofthe presentinvention and may be omitted, the conformation and general characteristics of the finished club remaining substantially the same. The club is referably constructed so that the center 0 gravity of the head y will lie substantially in the axis of the shaft.

A transverse. line, as at 14, is preferably the ball should be struck and to assist the player in properly directing his club. This line is preferably directly above the center of ravity of the club.

y making the club with :the same conformation on its front and rear faces, it may be used either right or left-handed. This is advantageous but not necessary and the principles of our invention may be equally well embodied in a construction in which these faces are of different conformation, as will be readily evident.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that we have provided a putter which is properl balanced and this is the primary object of our invention, as has been stated. The conformation of the head imparts a maximum of distance with the minimum of effort or back-stroke and likewise provides an over-spin on the ball. The preferred embodiment may be used either right or left-handed. The conformation of the under face of the head renders the club adaptable or any method of holding and facilitates the travel of the same during the swing.

We are aware that the form and construction 'of our putter may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of our invention, and we reserve the right to make all such changes therein as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A olf club comprising a shaft and a substantially oval-shaped head on the outer extremity thereof with the shaft directed at substantially the center of mass of the head.

2. A golf club comprising a substantially oval-shaped head having playing faces of like conformation on opposite sides thereof, and a shaft directed at substantially the center of gravity of the head.

3. A golf club comprising a substantially oval-shaped head having playing faces of like conformation formed on opposite sides thereof, and a shaft entering-said head substantially-midway between said faces and between the ends of the head.

4. A golf club comprising a head havin its playing face curved from end to end am: from top to bottom, and a shaft connected to said head with its axis directed atsubstantially the center of gravity of the head.

-5. A golf club comprising a shaft and a head, the head having its playing face curved from end to end and from side to side and its i-bpt tom face likewise curved being directed substantially at :the center of gravity of said head.

7. A golf club comprising a shaft and a playin head on one end of said shaft, said head aving oppositely disposed playing faces of like conformation and the weight of the head being substantiall uniformly distributed on opposite sides 0 the axis of said shaft, the bottom face of the head bein curved from end to end and from side to si e.

8. A golf club comprising a headhaving its front, rear and bottom faces curved from end to end and from side to side, and a shaft connected to said head with its axis directed at substantially the center of gravity of said head.

9. A golf club comprising a head having face plates of like conformation on opposite sides thereof, the said plates being convexly curved from end to end and from side to side, a bottom plate oii'said head likewise curved from end to end and from side to side, and a shaft connected to said head and having its axis directed at the center. of gravity thereof.

10. A golf club comprising a head havin its front and bottom faces curved from en to end and from side to side, and a shaft connected to said head with its axis directed {It stiiibstantially the center of gravity of said lea EDWIN A. KELLY. RICHARD A. LINK. 

